I lay in the hospital bed; nurses running around me everywhere. Watching the people makes me even more nervous. Thoughts keep flying through my mind: What's happening to me? Am I going to loose my baby? Why isn't AJ in here? Why did they make him leave? I need AJ here; I'm scared. While the doctor is looking at me, a nurse gives me a shot. I give a little yelp. After a while, the pains start to go away. Then a couple more minutes; the doctor walks out of the room.
(In the hall)
AJ and Howie jump up when the doctor walks out of the room.
"Doc, please, tell me what's going on in there!" AJ says.
"Primarily the only thing we can do this early in the pregnancy is to use tocolytics; these are drugs that retard labor. We've already administered them to her." The doctor says.
"Well, does this mean she'll be all right? Is the baby going to be all right?" AJ asks.
"There is only minor bleeding, the fetal membranes have been torn. If she starts bleeding heavier, at 2 months, the odds of the child surviving are low." The doctor says.
"Oh God, oh God." AJ says leaning down.
"About 20 to 30% of women bleed or have cramping sometime during the first 20 wk of pregnancy; only 10 to 15% actually spontaneously abort. About 85% of spontaneous abortions occur in the first trimester and tend to be related to fetal causes, meaning there's something wrong with the baby. But I believe that nothing is wrong with the baby." The doctor says.
"Be truthful with me Doc; do you think the baby will be OK?" Howie asks with a very worried face.
"I think they be just fine. Miss Patterson is a fighter; and she doesn't seem as if she'll bleed much. Actually she was in the process of stopping when I came out here." The doctor says.
"Oh thank God. When can I see her?" AJ asks.
"It will still be a while. They still need to totally stop the bleeding and get her comfortable again. My advice to you is to get you something to eat and rest a little." The doctor says.
"I doubt he'll get much rest; but I think I can make him eat something." Howie says. The doctor smiles and walks off.
"Come on man. Let's get something to eat." Howie says patting AJ on the back.
(The next morning)
I was admitted to a room in the middle of the night. AJ and Howie are sleeping in chairs in the room. I wake up; very uncomfortable, and upset. I can't remember what had happened, besides that I had been in premature labor. I start getting upset because I don't know what happened.
"AJ? AJ?" I say looking around in the dim light of the morning. AJ hears me calling him and runs to my side.
"I'm here love, it's OK, I'm here." AJ says holding my hand. Howie here's the commotion and wakes up too.
"Hey what's going on?" Howie asks.
"AJ what happened last night?" I ask.
"Love, you went into premature labor." AJ says.
"I remember that. What about the baby? What happened with the baby?" I ask nervously.
"The doctor said that the baby's fine. He's going to come in this morning and talk to us; he should be here in a couple hours. Get some more sleep; you need it." AJ says kissing my forehead. All of a sudden, I feel like a weight has been taken off of my shoulders. I know everything is going to be all right.
